5 places to get authentic cuisines from around the world
Charlotte’s food scene is constantly evolving with bold new takes on Southern cooking and fusion cuisines.
Often glossed over are opportunities to taste authentic cuisines from around the world made by locals with diverse heritage who have a passion for sharing their culture’s staples.
If you’re ready for something authentic, check out these restaurants:
This Lebanese restaurant in Ballantyne serves kebab with vegetables in either a wrap or on a bed of rice.
Sides such as baba ganoush (creamy roasted eggplant hummus), stuffed grape leaves and flavorful salads such as fattoush and tabbouleh make Zeitouni a fresh and healthy dining option.
Lebanese beer, wine, and sweet and flaky baklava are also available, as is house olive oil and pita chips for purchase.
Ben Thanh http://t.co/3JT1DxG2wP #Charlotte Dinner at #benthanh on Central Ave. #foodadventures pic.twitter.com/feUlmW2lJw — DineHere.us (@dine_here) February 24, 2015
//><!--This Central Avenue eatery is tucked away near a plethora of Asian restaurants and grocery stores.//--><!
The long menu can be daunting for the uninitiated, but pho beef noodle soup and lemongrass dishes can be a good place to start.
Be sure to try Vietnamese iced coffee or one of their creamy avocado smoothies.
South Blvd also has a wonderful selection of authentic Vietnamese restaurants, like the highly reviewed Vietnam Grille and Doan’s.
A photo posted by @asianed on Oct 12, 2014 at 4:02pm PDT
//><!--If you’d like to experience ramen beyond instant noodle packets, Musashi Japanese Restaurant near the intersection of Pineville-Matthews and Johnston roads has an authentic Japanese family dining experience, including employees happy to converse in Japanese.//--><!
Try their ramen made with pork bone or soy broths and some of their traditional sushi dishes and salads.
If you’re in the University area try Golden Krust, a delectable Jamaican bakery and restaurant. I’d recommend ordering at the counter and getting it to go.
Golden Krust is well stocked with Jamaican pastries that often have coconut or rum spiced flavors.
Try the oxtail (a tender cut of beef similar to pot roast), jerk chicken or curry goat with a side of rice and peas – and make sure to grab a fizzy Jamaican cream soda on your way out.
Caribbean Hut (locations in Woodlawn Road and north Charlotte) offers Jamaican fare as well as roti, a southern Caribbean dish with a wonderful blend of Indian spices.
Trying Korean food for the first time. #food #korean with @jesseddotson A video posted by Julie Spragg (@juliemspragg) on Oct 17, 2013 at 4:17pm PDT
Korean dining options are limited in Charlotte, but this spot on Arrowood Rd — which looks like Chinese takeout at first glance — offers a full Korean menu with many authentic dishes beyond basic bibimbap, kimchi and bulgogi. The Korean menu lists each dish in Hangul characters.
Try the japchae (sweet potato noodle stir fry) or galbi (barbecue short ribs).
Fingers crossed that Charlotte can get a standalone, modern Korean barbecue joint, complete with karaoke.
Sarah Auvil loves coffee, tea and travel in addition to learning about cultures.
This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 11:42 PM with the headline "5 places to get authentic cuisines from around the world."